US Embassy: No secret, no special formula to getting a US visa

[Wally G! 58]

The United States Embassy in Manila recently launched a "Walang Sikreto" (No Secret) campaign to let Filipinos know that there is no secret formula to getting a US visa.

In an email to GMA News Online, Tina Malone, Information Officer of the US Embassy, said: “There really is no secret or special formula to getting a US visa.”

The "Walang Sikreto" campaign, launched on October 16, aims to deter fraudulent individuals who are preying on Filipinos applying for a US visa.

The campaign aims to make Filipinos aware that the official and best source of information about US visas is the website of the US Embassy.

Malone said the embassy launched the campaign because Filipinos fall prey to scammers as they try to get a US visa.

“Too many Filipinos get scammed by sending money to individuals whom they have never met, who promise to arrange visa interviews, but the visa interview never materializes,” she said.

Visa fixers

Malone said in the past, the US Embassy focused its efforts on catching visa applicants who have used visa fixers.

In most of the cases, the applicants borrowed money to pay visa fixers but did not receive a visa.

However, the US Embassy realized that it was better to get to the root of the problem.

“[W]e have decided to emphasize greater prevention in protecting Filipino applicants from losing their money and becoming permanently barred from traveling to the United States by using visa fixers or being scammed,” Malone explained.

"Walang Sikreto"

In an earlier news release, the US Embassy said the “Walang Sikreto” campaign has four goals:

To encourage “honest application" when it comes to seeking a US visa;

To warn against “visa fixers” who charge illegal fees;

To urge the public to be more aware of fraud, and

To send a call of action to the public to seek more information and report any anomalies in visa operations.

Most of the targets of visa scams are tourists, students, and aspiring temporary workers who are usually gullible to “surefire formulas,” the US Embassy noted.

What to avoid

Malone warned the public that if something “sounds too good to be true, it isn’t true.”

She said there several scamming styles but one stands out as the most common modus operandi.

“An individual, “a friend of a friend,” or a travel agent promises or guarantees to get someone a U.S. visa. The visa fixer charges the individual 20,000 to 100,000 pesos or more to help the individual,” she said.

“In many of the visa scams you will never meet the person. All contact will be through the phone or e-mail,” she added.

Malone also mentioned that visa fixers usually claim to have a contact inside the Embassy who will help you get your visa.

“Don’t believe them!” she warned.

“In the end, the visa applicant [who trusts scammers] loses all of his or her money and ends up being banned permanently from traveling to the United States,” she said.

Go to US Embassy website

To prevent being scammed, Malone said applicants should go to the embassy website and use the information and resources there to apply for a visa.

“The US Embassy wants to help you in this process. Use our Embassy website manila.usembassy.gov to apply for your visa,” she said.

“Help us help you by being honest in applying for your visa,” she added.

“Do not use an agency or individual who makes special promises or guarantees to get you a visa or encourages you to lie or misrepresent yourself,” she said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/279019/pinoyabroad/news/us-embassy-no-secret-no-special-formula-to-getting-a-us-visa

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Awesome article. Thanks for sharing :thumbs:

[bigdog 376]

Good and informative.

[D & N 0]

The United States Embassy in Manila recently launched a "Walang Sikreto" (No Secret) campaign to let Filipinos know that there is no secret formula to getting a US visa.

In an email to GMA News Online, Tina Malone, Information Officer of the US Embassy, said: "There really is no secret or special formula to getting a US visa."

The "Walang Sikreto" campaign, launched on October 16, aims to deter fraudulent individuals who are preying on Filipinos applying for a US visa.

The campaign aims to make Filipinos aware that the official and best source of information about US visas is the website of the US Embassy.

Malone said the embassy launched the campaign because Filipinos fall prey to scammers as they try to get a US visa.

"Too many Filipinos get scammed by sending money to individuals whom they have never met, who promise to arrange visa interviews, but the visa interview never materializes," she said.

Visa fixers

Malone said in the past, the US Embassy focused its efforts on catching visa applicants who have used visa fixers.

In most of the cases, the applicants borrowed money to pay visa fixers but did not receive a visa.

However, the US Embassy realized that it was better to get to the root of the problem.

"[W]e have decided to emphasize greater prevention in protecting Filipino applicants from losing their money and becoming permanently barred from traveling to the United States by using visa fixers or being scammed," Malone explained.

"Walang Sikreto"

In an earlier news release, the US Embassy said the "Walang Sikreto" campaign has four goals:

To encourage "honest application" when it comes to seeking a US visa;

To warn against "visa fixers" who charge illegal fees;

To urge the public to be more aware of fraud, and

To send a call of action to the public to seek more information and report any anomalies in visa operations.

Most of the targets of visa scams are tourists, students, and aspiring temporary workers who are usually gullible to "surefire formulas," the US Embassy noted.

What to avoid

Malone warned the public that if something "sounds too good to be true, it isn't true."

She said there several scamming styles but one stands out as the most common modus operandi.

"An individual, "a friend of a friend," or a travel agent promises or guarantees to get someone a U.S. visa. The visa fixer charges the individual 20,000 to 100,000 pesos or more to help the individual," she said.

"In many of the visa scams you will never meet the person. All contact will be through the phone or e-mail," she added.

Malone also mentioned that visa fixers usually claim to have a contact inside the Embassy who will help you get your visa.

"Don't believe them!" she warned.

"In the end, the visa applicant [who trusts scammers] loses all of his or her money and ends up being banned permanently from traveling to the United States," she said.

Go to US Embassy website

To prevent being scammed, Malone said applicants should go to the embassy website and use the information and resources there to apply for a visa.

"The US Embassy wants to help you in this process. Use our Embassy website manila.usembassy.gov to apply for your visa," she said.

"Help us help you by being honest in applying for your visa," she added.

"Do not use an agency or individual who makes special promises or guarantees to get you a visa or encourages you to lie or misrepresent yourself," she said.

http://www.gmanetwor...tting-a-us-visa

Hello, Goodmorning...

can i asked you some question maybe u know somebody had the same situation like mine... I am so worried about our petition.. I just wanna ask if there's someone here who got a RFE from VSC for NSO annotated MC? I was annuled, i included my court decision on our petition and we had NOA1 april 23. Court decision dated March 20,2012, Certificate of Finality July 2, 2012 and Annotated Marriage Certificate from NSO they put the court decision March 20,2012.. They never put the date of Certificate of Finality on NSO annotated MC... Do you know of a situation where someone from the philippines was denied because their certificate of finality was after the NOA1 date? I posted here on Vj a week ago and everybody was keep telling me that my application is subject to denial because im not free to marry yet.. Makes me stressed out, depressed and so sad after all the waiting, i'm just expecting the denial from the USCIS.. Court decision declared my previous marriage as null and void and signed by presiding judge. We thought that was fine and i just have to bring all other required documents (Certificate of Finality and NSO Annotated Marriage Certificate) to the interview. Please any help info would be greatly appreciated... Thank you..

[Wally G! 58]

Hello, Goodmorning...

can i asked you some question maybe u know somebody had the same situation like mine... I am so worried about our petition.. I just wanna ask if there's someone here who got a RFE from VSC for NSO annotated MC? I was annuled, i included my court decision on our petition and we had NOA1 april 23. Court decision dated March 20,2012, Certificate of Finality July 2, 2012 and Annotated Marriage Certificate from NSO they put the court decision March 20,2012.. They never put the date of Certificate of Finality on NSO annotated MC... Do you know of a situation where someone from the philippines was denied because their certificate of finality was after the NOA1 date? I posted here on Vj a week ago and everybody was keep telling me that my application is subject to denial because im not free to marry yet.. Makes me stressed out, depressed and so sad after all the waiting, i'm just expecting the denial from the USCIS.. Court decision declared my previous marriage as null and void and signed by presiding judge. We thought that was fine and i just have to bring all other required documents (Certificate of Finality and NSO Annotated Marriage Certificate) to the interview. Please any help info would be greatly appreciated... Thank you..

To my knowledge and one of the requirements for K-1, You must be legally free to marry. This means that you are single, you have proof of annulment or divorce from any other previous spouse or proof that your previous spouse has passed away.

I am not 100% versed in the annulment process but I see from a google search you are on " The World of Filipinas ". This post seems to be the closes answer to your questions. " The World of Filipinas "